Guitarist Al di Meola’s second record as a leader is generally an explosive affair, although it does have a fair amount of variety. With Jan Hammer or Barry Miles on keyboards, electric bassist Anthony Jackson, drummer Lenny White (Steve Gadd takes his place on the “Elegant Gypsy Suite”), and percussionist Mingo Lewis on most of the selections, di Meola shows off his speedy and rock-ish fusion style. … A near classic in the fusion vein.

This particular pressing was part of Columbia Records’ short-lived (1980-1983) audiophile series, in which they released a number of then-new and vintage titles in high-quality, half speed mastered editions in order to compete with Mobile Fidelity and Nautilus. These records were mastered with both the tape deck and the cutting lathe running at half speed, which produces deeper bass and better imaging than standard pressings. In addition, these records, which sold for a substantial premium over the regular pressings of the album, were pressed on high quality virgin vinyl. Mobile Fidelity’s audiophile pressings are better known than those from Columbia, but Columbia’s half speed mastered pressings are, for the most part, exceptionally good ones, and this album is no exception.

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